On 5 May, 2018, the hall re-opened after a £400,000  re-development programme which completely transformed it. 

The scheme was supported by grants from South Oxfordshire District Council, The Phillimore Charitable Trust and numerous generous local donors. The trustees also arranged a number of community fundraising events including a gala performance by Dame Judi Dench which raised over £20,000.

The hall now has:

• A new central entrance and foyer – linking the two halls and enabling ‘all under one roof’ access for larger parties and events.  
• Upgraded and accessible lavatories. 
• A new kitchen for the Main Hall with both an internal and external serving hatch/bar. 
• Improved and energy efficient heating – underfloor heating for the halls.  
• Replacement of the large draughty Victorian windows with period-style wooden framed double-glazed units.
• Solar panels on the roof providing green energy to light/heat the halls and save on energy costs. 
• Reorganisation of the storage facilities making them more user-friendly and fit for purpose.
• A bright new extension to the Main Hall overlooking the garden and making the most of the stunning views over the garden and local countryside. 
• An extended patio area giving easier access and linking the Main Hall to the garden.
• An Outdoor Store with WC facilities that will mean the paddock can be hired out separately for events. 

In making improvements, the Trustees successfully preserved the building’s period features whilst delivering 21st century comfort and facilities.  

The improvement works have seen massively increased bookings, both for regular classes and for one-off events such as weddings and community events.

These exciting developments followed decades of improvements by past generations of volunteer trustees. The Main Hall was opened as a community hall in 1980 and the Palmer Room in 2000 after the former village school was rescued for community use by the parish council.  

In the early days, both halls were completely separate with The Old School House – the living accommodation originally assigned to the headmaster and then used by hall caretakers – situated between them. 

 In 2011/2012 the vaulted ceilings of the halls were insulated and external drainage installed to cope with run-off from the car park.  This was all done with the help of grants from South Oxfordshire District Council and Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete Ltd.

Eye & Dunsden Parish Council gave a grant towards the replacing the windows in The Old School House with wooden double-glazed units and TOE2 gave a grant to replace one of the large Victorian windows, and a smaller metal framed window in the Palmer Room. 

The Trustees used funds raised through lettings and fundraising events to make significant improvements to The Old School House.  The loft was insulated and the building rewired.  A new front entrance was built, a new kitchen installed and the property was refurbished and decorated throughout.  The cottage is now let and the income is being used to support other improvements to the halls and grounds.

In February 2015 the hall’s electricity supply was upgraded to cope with the increased usage of the hall.  In addition to these improvements the Trustees have installed safer heating in the Palmer Room and more efficient lighting in the Main Hall and externally.  Outside the overgrown hedges have been cut back and replaced with a new hedge at the front of the hall and new trees donated by the Woodland Trust.

If you would like to help the hall, please donate via GiveAsYouLive. If you are a UK tax payer your donation will be worth 25% more thanks to Gift Aid.

If you, or your company, are able to help us raise funds or would like to donate time as a volunteer task force, the Trustees would be very happy to hear from you. Please email us now. 

You can read more about the history of the hall in a fascinating History of the building produced to mark the 150th anniversary of the main hall in 2019.